Trump Orders Troop Deployment to Portland to Guard ICE Facilities
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he has instructed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy military forces to Portland, Oregon. The deployment is aimed at securing federal immigration sites from what the president called “domestic terrorists,” and he said troops are authorised to use “full force, if necessary.”
In a post online, Trump said he was ordering Hegseth
“to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, pushed back on the decision:
“The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city. The president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it.”
Wilson, speaking at a press conference on Friday with other city officials, urged for calm and criticised the federal presence, stating it had not been requested by the city.
“This may be a show of force, but that’s all it is. It’s just a big show,” he said.
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon echoed that concern, writing on X:
“Trump may be replaying the 2020 playbook and surging into Portland with the goal of provoking conflict and violence.”
The city has a history of protest activity, especially in response to issues of police brutality and federal overreach. During earlier unrest, some local leaders argued that federal troop deployments only escalated tensions.
Trump’s statement that troops may use “full force” raised questions about whether lethal force would be permitted, and under what circumstances. By law, military personnel can use force only in self-defence.
The Pentagon did not specify whether the forces would be National Guard, active-duty military, or a combination — as seen in previous domestic deployments this year.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated:
“We stand ready to mobilise U.S. military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland at the President’s direction. The Department will provide information and updates as they become available.”
When asked about the decision, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasised the need to protect immigration officers and facilities amid rising unrest:
“We’re not going to put up with it. This administration is not playing games,” she said during an interview..
Tensions have been climbing nationwide following a recent shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, where one detainee died and two others were seriously injured.
Earlier in the week, Trump described protestors in Portland as dangerous individuals intent on destruction:
“They’re professional agitators and anarchists,” he said..
He recently signed an executive order labelling the anti-fascist group Antifa a domestic terrorist organisation, citing concerns about politically driven violence. “Crazy people” are trying to destroy Portland, he said on Thursday.
Law enforcement agencies, however, have stated there are no officially recognised terrorist incidents in the U.S. linked to Antifa. Trump previously attempted to classify the group during past waves of protest.
A significant incident involving a self-identified Antifa supporter occurred in Portland in August 2020, when Michael Reinoehl fatally shot Aaron “Jay” Danielson, a member of the right-wing Patriot Prayer group. Reinoehl was later killed by law enforcement while officers attempted to take him into custody.
The Trump administration has made law enforcement and crime prevention a central theme, even as overall violent crime has decreased in many cities. His administration’s aggressive approach to Democrat-led municipalities, including Los Angeles and Washington, has led to protests and legal battles.
Efforts to increase deportations have also drawn criticism. Though authorities say the focus is on individuals with criminal records, many detained immigrants have no such background. Cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington have seen a surge in resistance to these operations.
In the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Friday, ICE officers used tear gas and non-lethal projectiles to disperse demonstrators gathered outside a detention centre. Similar protests have taken place near immigration facilities in Portland and across the country.
